Chelsea have completed the signing of Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa for £7.5m, continuing an increasingly close transfer relationship between the two Premier League clubs.
The 33-year-old World Cup winner has signed a three-year contract at Stamford Bridge after bringing his five-year spell with Villa to an end.
Martinez joined Aston Villa from Arsenal in 2020 and went on to make 256 appearances for the club. He played a key role in Villa's rise in European football and helped them win the Europa League last season.
Speaking after completing his move to Chelsea, Martinez said he was delighted to join the club and is determined to compete for trophies.
“I'm delighted to be at this football club. Coming to Chelsea, for me and my family, was an easy decision to make and I'm just over the moon. I can't wait to get started.
“I want to be successful here. I'm someone who wants to win at everything I do and I want to bring that here to this football club because it's a football club that wins titles, so I think it's a good match.”
The move comes just days after Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson completed his transfer in the opposite direction, joining Aston Villa for £65m.
Martinez's arrival also marks the eighth deal between the two clubs in the past four years, making Chelsea and Villa the Premier League sides to have exchanged the most players — either permanently or on loan — during that period.
The relationship intensified after Chelsea's owners, BlueCo, took control of the club in 2022. That summer, Chelsea signed Carney Chukwuemeka from Villa for £20m.
Since then, Ian Maatsen moved to Villa for £37.5m, while Omari Kellyman joined Chelsea for £19m. Axel Disasi also spent time at Villa on loan in a deal worth £5m.
The two clubs have been particularly active in the transfer market this summer. Morgan Rogers completed a £117m move to Chelsea, while Alejandro Garnacho joined Aston Villa on loan with a conditional obligation to buy in a deal worth around £43m.
Jackson's £65m transfer to Villa was followed by Martinez's move to Stamford Bridge, further strengthening an unusual but increasingly significant transfer partnership between the clubs.
Since 2022, Chelsea have paid Aston Villa a total of £163.5m for players. Villa, meanwhile, have spent £102.5m on Chelsea players, including Disasi's loan fee.
That figure could eventually rise to £150.5m if the conditions attached to Garnacho's loan are met and his move becomes permanent. Chelsea believe those criteria are likely to be achieved.
Martinez now begins a new chapter of his career at Stamford Bridge, where he will bring Premier League experience, international pedigree and the mentality of a World Cup winner to Chelsea's squad.